I want to make sure this way that you have all the elements in place for each published article. I think that all writers from InfoBarrel or elsewhere can use it (at least partly). Here is the checklist in which I added a short explanation on each entry:

The Main Elements of an Online Article

Category

As I published in forum the InfoBarrel Categories List - it is now easy for me to choose the right place for my article or to suggest a new category/ sub-category -- if the one I'm looking for is missing. Still, I want to take care and pay attention to put all my related articles in the same category.

Tags

I think that adding the largest number of tags, which is 5, is desirable. This part was a mystery until recently when I came across the article "How to write your InfoBarrel tags" where you will find a detailed explanation about the "tags" namely, what exactly to add here and why. (This is the first information I ever read about tags and I think it is well documented and very logical.)

Keywords

- verify the desired percent for your main keywords.

Word count - it is optional (only if the length of the article interests you.)

The format of the article

- keep the same font in the article (read more about fonts here); - use the "justify" option for the text of the article (This helps you to get more 'clicks' - it is my opinion.); - choose the keywords and some synonyms during the article, and bold or italicize them to highlight certain aspects (this is important for SEO/search engine optimisation/ also); - distribute the various bold and italic phrases artistically during the article so that they are not all amassed in one or 2 paragraphs; - keep the same format for all the similar sub-headings.

Colors

I use colors in the article in a similar way and for the same reasons such as bolding and italicizing as they draw attention and highlight certain aspects. More than that, I heard recently that it too helps with SEO (this is still to be verified and studied further).

Photos

- name the first one with the main keyword - name the second one with the secondary keyword (or synonyms) - choose the right dimensions + the right placing inside the content - add the attribution at the bottom of the article for each of them (when is necessary)

(Be aware about the fact that adding several time a photo using the same name will place a number at the end of the secondary one added and on all the rest after the first one! Check if the name is not taken already by adding it at the end of this url: "http://www.infobarrel.com/Media/" and then put it on your browser. )

SEO related aspects

- add the recommended 2 internal links - in fact -> - add at least 5 other contextual internal links + or at the bottom of the article (as "related articles") - 2 external link s (1 + 1 - an external CONTEXTUAL link to a product or a website that you want to promote): "We do not accept articles that have the same ACTIVE link more than once. Do not submit duplicate URLs." (cf. InfoBarrel Editorial Guidelines) - the formatting of the main keyword/keyphrase (once H1 - which is already in the title by default, once bold, once italic, once H2, once H3 - in this order *) - (*H1, H2, H3 are header formats) - add the keyword in the last sentence of the article (I've read that it helps - and so far it seems to be true ).

Content

Is it self-sufficient and very detailed so that the reader is completely contented and has found the answer to all questions? Hmmm…you may say, "Yes, that's the point!". But no, not at all. If you want your reader to click on your website, ads or contextual links, then you have to provide SOME information, but in no case a complete, detailed one. The reader has to remain with at least one question unanswered so that this will most probably conduct him to click some ads or visit your website. (I think that there are several ways to look at this - because obvious well written, detailed articles are very valuable!)

Signature

Add a new signature for the article named as the article and customized for the article. (I do not know if this is the best way to do it because if you plan to write hundreds of articles - than you will have a hard time organizing them. I established a number for each of my 7 /for the moment/ different let's say main niches or topics and add it correspondingly to each new signature - as a prefix.)

Amazon section

- check if it is appropriate to put some keywords in this section and choose the right category for them also. (With different combination you will find for sure the one that displays the best Amazon products related to your article.)

Call to action

End your article with a call to action -- usually encouraging your readers to comment on the article or bookmark it or signup for InfoBarrel or whatever else you want them to do (pay attention to respect the "InfoBarrel Editorial Guidelines").

Copyscape

Add the Copyscape banner at the top and bottom of the article (OPTIONAL) - I use the same image I uploaded once in one of my article so that I do not have to upload the same image in all of my articles.

Use a Plagiarism Checker (OPTIONAL) -> obligatory when it is an outsourced article.

Right after I publish the article:

- Add a channel for it on Google Analytics - it is necessary ONLY if you did not set up the Analytics for it - if you have the Analytics set for InfoBarrel site - than is no need to do this.- Check what appears in the Amazon section if it has it, and make the adjustments if it is the case.- Save a backup copy (directly from Firefox with "Save as MHT" so that I have there all the elements included in the backup as tags for example, or the format or links).- Check if the links inside the article work properly.- Check the related articles section as well to see if they appear or not. Also, I check the tags to ensure the articles can be found.- Bookmark the article with some of the available bookmark sites (Facebook, Digg, Twitter, StumbleUpon, etc.). - Go through all the old articles in the same category/niche and interlink this new article in some of them.- Bookmark the article in the right folder with RoboForm Manager as I described here: - How to organize your websites and backlinks + add some comments there - what else you plan to do with it in future, where you plan to promote it,etc..

I know this is a very detailed list and could be overwhelming, but as I have long term plans to write articles for InfoBarrel, I am very interested in studying and taking care of the all aspects of my articles in a profound manner - something that could not be the case on your end. And if you have goals similar to mine, then you can start with practicing the guidelines one at a time until you can manage to incorporate all the details which you know are important for your articles.

I am on my way to gain and incorporate more knowledge in my articles - in order to maximise theirs revenue. You're welcome to add your thoughts and experiences in the comments below so that all of us could learn more about writing online articles that will help us earn more money.

Comments

Nov 24, 2010 8:00am

incomepirate
This is an excellent article. As a new writer on InfoBarrel I really appreciate it. I think you have an additional dozen articles if you explore each of your bullet points as a separate article. I understand the general concepts, but will need to work hard to keep these in the forefront of my mind when authoring an article. Great stuff!

Nov 24, 2010 8:36am

LoveSpaces
Thanks for the compliment incomepirate. I am glad that you find it helpful. Yes, indeed, there is a lot more space for additional articles.

Nov 24, 2010 9:58am

dpeach
This is a good list. One thing I do with my signatures is I group them. All my articles in a certain niche have the same signature block. Then if I want to change all of them at once I can just edit that signature. I try to build my signature block so that it is specific to that niche, but generic enough that it will fit all the articles in that category.

I would add in the final section to check that the formatting looks good after your final submission. I have seen several articles where people obviously have not looked at the way the article looks after they submitted. Some look pretty bad and it would only take 15 seconds to fix if they notice it.

Nov 24, 2010 8:33pm

LoveSpaces
You're so right dpeach - with the formatting - I will add this - thanks. Regarding the signatures - I like to do them dedicated for the moment but this is an unsettle yet issue - it's possible to change it especially having a goal to write a total of 1000 articles in the next year.

Deborah-Diane
Excellent article! I've been writing here nearly a year, and have over 200 articles, and I got a few good suggestions from it. Thanks for sharing your research!

Mar 29, 2011 3:32am

jpwriter
You definitely want to add 5 tags. They should be relevant to your article and include the keywords.

I have some feedback on a few points.
-The "channel" is in Google Adsense, not Analytics. Members w/less than 10 articles can't access Analytics yet.
-Putting contextual links at the bottom of the article for "resources" is not a good idea. It goes against the meaning of contextual (in the text) and doesn't help with SEO. Signatures are best for that.
-Instead of bold, use headers. Bold and italics should be used sparingly.
-You don't want any links in your beginning paragraph.
-I'd change the content section. Talking about clicking on ads is wording that is open to interpretation and reads as "write less than quality" to encourage...

You definitely have a system going. I offer the above as a way to help, not criticize. I know that my writing journey is forever twisting and turning!

Apr 5, 2011 4:27pm

southerngirl09
What a great system you have established. I like how your manage your signature box. Thanks for sharing your tips.

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